Theodore f



(No Model.)

T. 1 OONKLIN.

TRUNK CATCH.

Patented Feb. 3, 1885.

gEiE/u WWW 02% Q llnrrn o THEODORE F. CONKLIN, OF FOND DU LAO, \VISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE GONKLIN TRUNK BOLT COMPANY, (LIMITED,) OF

SAME PLACE.

\ TRUNK-CATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,721, dated February 3, 1885. Application filed July 31, 1884. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE F. CONKLIN, of Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TrunleGatches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to trunk-catches or boxfasteners, and is in part an improvement on the device patented by me on the 11th of September, A. D. 1883, and numbered 284,615; and it consists in certain peculiarities of con struction, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section, in side elevation, of my improved de vice as locked. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a like view of the working parts when the latch is in position as unlocked. Fig. at is an under side perspective view of the latch. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of my trunk-catches separated. I

A is the box-plate, which is provided with a pin, a, projecting from the inside of its front face.

A is a catch-plate, which is pivoted 011 the 1 pin a, and is maintained in position with its retaining-lug a, that projects out from its free end, resting against the inside face of the boxplate A by means of a spring, (1?, coiled around the said pin a, secured thereon in any suitable manner. The said catch-plate A is provided in about its center with a pin, a, projecting from its front face, and through an oblong perforation, a, cut across the frgnt face of the box-plate A. The free end of the catch-plate A is rounded, and the upper end of its retaining-lug c is cut on a bevel, so as to be readily moved out of the way of the catching-hasp described below.

B is the upper catch-plate. This is provided on its lower edge with the hasp b, pro jecting vertically from it on a plane slightly inward of the front face of the box-plate A, wherein it is received when the trunk or box is closed. The said hasp is perforated in its center, as shown at b, to receive the retain l ing-lug a of the catch-plate A. On one side of the hasp b, I provide a finger, b, which pro- 1 jects slightly downward, with its point bent inward, as shown. .This finger is designed to raining-lug a to guide the hasp safely down into the box-plate and to move the catch-plate A in position for locking. The edge of this latter corresponding to the said finger b is suitably cut away to enable the said finger to slip out of the plate readily.

The operation of my improved catches is easily understood. They are selflocking, as the moment the finger b has entered the boxplate the catch-plate is brought in position to fall in the perforated hasp Z). The unlocking is effected by simply moving the pin a to ward the finger b, or to the opposite edge of the oblong slot or perforation through which it projects. This motion will cause the rebe raised out of the hasp, when, as the trunk or box lid is raised, the finger of this latter will move the catch-plate, with its lug a, in position to look again.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a trunlrcatch, the combination, with the boxplate transversely perforated and p rovided with an inwardly-projecting pin, of a catch mounted on said pin and having a retaining-lug at its free end, and a pin projecting through the hole in the box-plate, said catch having also one side cut away or round ed out, and another plate having a stationary hasp rigid therewith, provided with a hole for engagement with the lug on the catch, and an inwardlyprojecting finger at one side for engagement with the cut-away portion of the catch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a trunk-catch, the combination of the box-plate A, having pin a and tran'sverse slot (4*, catch A, cut away or rounded out at one side, and having lug a and pin a, spring a", and plate B, having stationary hasp 1), provided with perforation b and finger 12 sub stantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Viscousin, in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE F. CONKLIN.

\Vitnesses:

H. G. Unnnnwoon, H. J. Fonsvrr-rn. 

